Automatic irrigator



1935- c. c. SPICHER AUTOMATIC IRRIGATOR Filed Jan. 22, 1934 WITNESSPatented F eb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES- AUTOMATIC IRRIGATOR Clarence C..Spicher, Johnstown, Pa; LWeyn Spicher, administrator of said ClarenceC. Spicher, deceased'assignor to L. Ada Spicher Application January 22,1934, Serial No. 707,696

' 4 Claims.

I This invention relates to colon irrigators, and more particularly tothe type of irrigator known as automatic.

Colon irrigation therapy has been practiced 5 with various means andmethods, the enema and siphon tube method being the best known. However,these methods are painful, inefiicient and frequently harmful. A furtherdisadvantage is that everything about the induced bowel movement ishighly artificial or unnatural, whereby the treatment is not conduciveto future normal movement's but tends to become habit-forming. The mostmodern development in colon irrigation is the use of a short tube ofsmall diameter which is inserted only a few inches into the rectum,-treating liquid'being injected through the tube into the coloncontinuously, or intermittently at will. When the liquid strikes thefirst obstruction in the colon it causes a peristaltic wave to pass downthe colon and force obstructing matter and the treating liquid out ofthe rectum on the outside of the tube whiohis too small to block thepassage. The colon is then relaxed'and the treating liquid flows againstthe next ob- 25 struction. This cycle is repeated until the entire colonhas been emptied. Because this method causes the bowel to empty itselfin a natural mannenand' because the movements occur without removing thetube, thus allowing the normal 30 peristaltic wave to complete its cyclewithout interruption, this type of irrigation is generally known asautomatic.

However, even automatic irrigation has its drawbacks! Due to the verylarge quantity of treating liquid: used and to the intermittent bowelmovements, it is necessary that during the entire treatment the patientsit or lie on a receptacle which can be flushed frequently, such as atoilet. Consequently, combination toilet andreclining tables have beendeveloped on which the patient can lie during treatment, but thesedevices are large and expensive and not suitable for home use.

On the other hand, automatic irrigators intended for use in connectionwith ordinary home toilets are impracticable. The types that fasten totoilet seats require the use of screws or the like, and sometimesalteration of the seats themselves, so that it is not convenient orfeasible tous'e the irrigators away from home on toilet seats which havenot previously been prepared to receive them. What is more important,such irrigators are uncomfortable and unsatisfactory devices to sit on.Those that do not fasten to toilet seats must beheld in the handthroughout the treatment. This is unsanitary,"and it becomes verytiresome and uncomfortable becausesuch treatments generally last atleast .a half hour. The result is that the treatment is not as efficientas it should be, because the patient is not fully at ease in mind-andbody. i

It is an object of this invention to provide an automatic irrigatorwhich can be quickly and easily attached'to and detached from any toiletseat without altering the seat and without the use of additionalfastening equipment.

Further objects are to provide .such an irrigato which is eflicient andpleasant to use, which does not makethe patient uncomfortable or tired,and which requires no attention nor handling during the treatment.

Still further objects are to provide an irrigator which is compact,light weight, sturdy, flexible, inexpensive, simple in construction andoperation, and easy to sterilize.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, of which Fig. 1 is a side view of an automaticirrigator clamped on a toilet seat shown in section; Fig; 2 a front viewof the irrigator with its catheter removed; and Fig. 3 a verticalsection through the connection between the tube and clamping member ofthe irrigator.

In the practice of automatic colon irrigation in the home, a patientsits upon a toilet seat and inserts a short-tube of small diameter a fewinches into the rectum. Treating liquid, such as water or a medicatedsolution, is then continuously supplied to the rectal tube through asuitable supply tube. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFig. 1 of the drawing these tubes are shown to comprise an uprightcatheter 1, and a rigid tube 2 whose inner end is joined to the lowerend of the catheter, a flexible tube 3 extending from the outer end ofthe rigid tube to a suitable elevated liquid supply source, not shown,such as a rubber bag whose discharge is controlled by the customary typeof valve in tube 3. q

The catheter is flexible in order'to give the patient no pain and toallow him a limited amount of movement relative to the rigid tube.Accordingly, it is made of rubber, rubber-covered flexible metal tubing,or the like. The catheter projects upward above the seat only a fewinches, preferably between five and six. It is desirable to provide itsupper end portion with a longitudinal slot 4, in addition to thecustomary outlet 6, to aid in flushing out the colon.

The rigid tube 2 is made of copper or other rust-proof metal, andextends'from above the rear portion of a toilet seat 7 inward, orforward, and downward a short distance into the toilet bowl 8. The innerend 9 of this tube is turned upward into substantially a vertical lineat a point directly below the normal position of the rectum of a patientseated on the toilet seat. It is desirable from the standpoint ofcomfort and general efficiency of the irrigator that this upturned endof the tube not extend high enough to actually touch the patient. Thelower end of the catheter is joined to the upturned end of tube 2 in theusual manner by stretching the catheter thereover. Flexible tube 3 isconnected to the outer end of rigid tube 2 in a like manner.

In order to relieve the patient of the unpleasant and tiring task ofholding rigid tube 2 throughout the treatment, the tube is detachablyfastened to the rear portion of the toilet seat by a clamp 11permanently connected to the tube. Although the clamp may take variousforms as long as it depends on no more than a clamping action to hold itin place, the one-piece spring clamp or clip shown. in the drawing ispreferred. This clamp is readily put in place by merely slipping itsspaced tongues 12, at least oneof which is resilient, over the top andbottom surfaces of the seat which is then securely gripped between them.To facilitate application of the clamp to the seat, the free or outerends of spring tongues 12 are curved away from each other. If desired, arubber sheath can be disposed on the upper tongue to eliminate anypossibility of its marring the seat.

As is shown in Fig. 1, the inner ends. of the tongues 12 are fastenedtogether face to face to form a rigid portion 13 of the clamp, thisportion being disposed substantially parallel to the adjacent inclinedcentral portion of the rigid tube. It is to this rigid portion of theclamp that tube 2 is permanently connected, whereby catheter 1 issupported in position without the aid of the patient or an attendant.

It is a feature of this invention that rigid tube 2 is not rigidlyconnected to clamp 11, but is mounted for movement relative thereto soas to permit catheter 1 to occupy various positions relative to thetoilet seat and the position of the patient thereon. The reason for thisadjustability arises in part from the fact that an im-' movableirrigator first requires the patient to so position himself as to bringthe rectum directly above the upturned end of the rigid tube, anyvariation from this position making it uncomfortable for the patient anddifficult, if not impossible, to insert the catheter. After that thepatient must remain in .the same position throughout the long treatmentno matter how tired or cramped he becomes. He can not shift about on theseat to more comfortable positions, because such an unadjustableirrigator can not move with him.

A joint 'or connection which substantially eliminates fatigue anddiscomfort of this nature during colon irrigation by allowing thepatient to move about on the toilet seat at will to rest himself, ismost clearly shown in Fig. 3. As there shown, a swivel member 14 isprovided at one end with a threaded axial bore 16 in which is disposed ascrew 1'7 passed through an opening in rigid portion 13 ofthe springclamp. The inner end of the screw abuts tightly against the closed endof the bore, a slight clearance being left between the head of the screwand rigid portion 13 which permits the swivel member to pivot on theclamp. If desired, this connection may be a pin or stud riveted so as toprovide for" the movement described.

The opposite end of the swivel member is pro posed. The tube isprevented from moving axially of the bore preferably by collars 19brazed or peened on the tube at both sides of the swivel member.

The double swivel thus formed permits the catheter and upturned end 9 ofthe rigid tube to tilt sideways, to swing in a lateral arc, and toremain substantially upright regardless of the position of the remainderof. the rigid tube. Consequently, the rigid tube is adapted to assumeenough different positions to allow a patient to shift about on thetoilet seat without causing him pain or interfering with the emcacy ofthe treatment. At the same time, the tubes upturned portion 9 beingrigid, the oatheter is positively held thereby in the rectum throughoutthe treatment and can not be forced out by the bowel movements. Thiseliminates the necessity of reinserting the cathetergafter eachmovement, or of holding it in the hand to prevent it from being ejected.

An automatic irrigator constructed in accordance with this inventiontakes from colon irrlgation therapy the unpleasantness, pain, fatigueand possible, harm heretofore present in varying degrees. It is aninexpensive device of compact form which can conveniently be carriedabout by thetraveler and attached to any toilet seat, in hotels orelsewhere. Due to. its simple construction it can readily be sterilized.Likewise,,there are no loose parts to misplace and nothing to adjust orto get out of order. 1

A particular advantage of this type of irrigator is that by requiring noattention from the patient during treatment, and by making it possiblefor him to relax and remain at ease, the induced bowel'movements are themost natural possible with artificial, stimulus. Consequently, thetreatments tend to encourage normal movements rather than to become anecessary substitute therefor. Also, it provides a gymnastic exercisefor the muscular structure of the bowel, tending to strengthen themuscle by exercise and there by becoming a curative measure not obtainedby any other known method.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprincipleand construction of my invention, and have illustrated anddescribed what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. IHowever, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

l. A colon irrigator comprising a clamp adapted to be attached to atoilet seat, a swivel member pivotally mounted on said clamp, a rigidtube connected to the swivel member for'unrestrlcted turning on itslongitudinal axis, whereby the tube is attached to the clamp by a doubleswivel connection, means holding the tube against axial movementrelative to said swivel member, said tube extending inwardly andoutwardly from said seat with its inner end turned upwardly, and a.flexible catheter projecting upwardly from said upturned end, theopposite end of said tube being adapted to be connected to aliquidsupply source.

2. A colon irrigator comprising a clamp adapted to be attached to atoilet seat, a swivel member pivotally mounted on said clamp andprovided with a transverse bore, a rigid tube rotatably disposed in saidbore and extending inwardly and downwardly from said seat with its innerend turned upwardly, means holding the tube against movement axially ofsaid bore, and a flexible catheter projecting upwardly from saidupturned end, the opposite end of said tube being adapted to beconnected to a liquid supply source.

3. A colon irrigator comprising a spring clip adapted to bedetachablyclamped on a toilet seat and having an extension projecting inwardly anddownwardly therefrom, a swivel member pivotally mounted on saidextension and provided at its upper end with a transverse bore, a rigidtube rotatably disposed in said bore and extending inwardly anddownwardly from said seat with its inner end turned upwardly, a collarattached to the tube at eachside of said swivel member to prevent thetube from moving axially of said bore,

and a flexible catheter projecting upwardly from said upturned end ofthe tube; the opposite end which the swivel member pivots relative tosaid attachment means, and means normally holding the tube against axialmovement relative to said swivel member, one end of said tube beingadapted to be connected to a catheter and the opposite end of the tubebeing adapted to be connected to a liquid supply source. r CLARENCE C.SPICHER.

